WMV-FCP-Quicktime???

Hi all.

I have two wmv files that I need to convert to QT in order to upload and play on an IPad.

I was thinking of this workflow for conversion: import wmv on new project in fcpx (if that's even possible) then export QT using some flavor of mobile device setting

OR

Should I use mpeg Streamclip and convert that way. I'm thinking this would be the easiest.

Or is Compressor an option?

Thanks.

Jonathan

FCP X won't work with WMV. Neither will Streamclip.

You need Flip4MAc , which will enable you to use the QuickTime Export Components setting in Compressor.

Russ

You could try Handbrake .... It does "accept" a lot of different codecs/containers, some are undocumented but work, like wmv's.
The only drawback here is that your converted output would only be a x/h264 or an mpeg2 file. And it's not as "userfriendly" as MPEGStreamclip, especially when you need to up- or downscale resolutions. But it's a freebie !

My policy is, if you should go from a highly compressed file for editing, always go directly to prores. Otherwise it's like making a VHS to VHS copy with how much loss there can be.

There are some other options to go from Windoze Media files to prores, but the flip4mac one is the best. Damn those Microsoft licensing fees!

OK thanks everyone.

The two wmf files were something that my wife got from work that she needed to be able to just play on her IPad, and then delete them later. No editing involved.

What I did was open the two files in Quicktime and they automatically converted to .mov! Wow. That was easy. So either I had the Flip4Mac plugin installed, or QT just did it. I then just saved the file as .mov.

Anyway of knowing if I have the F4M plug in installed? Maybe I purchased it a long time ago.

Jonathan

I believe the component should be in the QuickTime folder in the root library.

Russ

A great alternative, believe it or not is AnyVideo Converter HD, which you can find in the app store for $6. It has kind of a weird interface, but it's very simple and seems to be able to convert back and forth a crazy number of formats. I heard about it on the FCPX podcast and was skeptical, but it's actually really good! It even creates ProRes (but a bootleg version it appears, which works fine in FCPX). If you are paranoid, you can pass it through compressor to the real ProRes and you wouldn't know the difference. I used it recently for the FRAPS and WebM codecs, which are hard to deal with in OS X. Sorenson Squeeze for example handles export to WebM, but you can't go from WebM to anything else.

One of the most useful (and free) utilities to go from (or to) those pesky formats has got to be Miro Video Converter.

www.mirovideoconverter.com

A must have in your utility arsenal. There's not much it can't do. : >

dinerdog wrote: One of the most useful (and free) utilities to go from (or to) those pesky formats has got to be Miro Video Converter.

www.mirovideoconverter.com

A must have in your utility arsenal. There's not much it can't do. : >

This^
It will convert your wmv straight to Pro Res or many other formats if you wish with no watermark.
Thank you dinerdog, I did not know this before (just tried and confirmed it). I even double check that the quicktime conversion gave me a watermark (no flip4mac license) and using miro did not.